Child struck by car in Sunland Park, NM, dies; father had stopped to buy drugs

The father who struck his 3-year-old son with a car and killed him in Sunland Park Wednesday morning allegedly was attempting to buy heroin at the time, officials said.

Daniel Orozco, 25, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, injury or death, Sunland Park police said. Orozco's bail is set at $500,000.

An investigation by the Sunland Park police revealed that Orozco had stopped to allegedly buy heroin, officials said. He was unable to obtain heroin and left the area without checking to see if the child was still in the vehicle, police said.

Orozco knew that the child could unbuckle his seatbelt and get out of the car by himself, officials said.

REPORTER

Aaron Martinez

After Orozco allegedly struck the child, he and another person, whose name was not released, drove to the Sunland Park Police Department to get medical help for the child, officials said.

The child was airlifted from McNutt Street just after 8:30 a.m. to University Medical Center, officials said. The child was pronounced dead at about 9:30 a.m.

Orozco originally told police he had seen a friend and stopped to talk. During their conversation, he told police the child had unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.